Project Thanksgiving aims to feed 6,000 families a Thanksgiving meal

KINGSPORT – For the 10th consecutive year, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee and 88.3 WCQR are working together to ensure local families don’t go hungry on Thanksgiving.

The two organizations launched Project Thanksgiving at a press conference on Thursday morning. The goal is to give 6,000 families and individuals a traditional Thanksgiving meal, along with a Bible provided by WCQR.

“We don’t want to see families go without food at any point during the year, but we feel like the holidays are a special time that families should enjoy without the burden of worrying whether or not they will have food to eat,” said Rhonda Chafin, executive director of Second Harvest. “The box we provide for them not only nourishes them physically, but it provides emotional and spiritual nourishment because of the joy of knowing that they can have a Thanksgiving meal this year.”

Over the last 10 years, Project Thanksgiving has raised approximately $1.2 million and provided traditional Thanksgiving meals for 47,977 families in Northeast Tennessee, according to a press release.

To date, the organizations have raised $10,275 for Project Thanksgiving 2018, which will provide meals for 411 families. Their goal is to raise at least $150,000 in order to reach the 6,000-meals mark.

This Friday, 88.3 WCQR will host an all-day on-air fundraiser asking listeners and area businesses and churches to donate $25 to sponsor a Thanksgiving meal box.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee will host hundreds of volunteers on Nov. 9 and 10 to pack the Thanksgiving meals in boxes for distribution, as well as participate in other projects that will benefit families in need at Thanksgiving.

Donations are currently being accepted online at www.wcqr.org or at www.netfoodbank.org, or by calling (423) 279-0430. The deadline to donate is Nov. 11.